Michael’s theatrical book debut
Musical theatre star used his own stage fright in first page-turner
Musical theatre star and TV and radio presenter Michael Ball turned his hand to writing a novel and used his real-life experience to give The Empire authenticity. When he took to the stage in Les Miserables in the West End to perform the role of Marius crippling stage fright caused him to walk out of the production.
“I was singing Empty Chairs At Empty Tables, which I’ve sung a hundred times, and I couldn’t remember it. Then the panic started and I don’t know how I got to the end of the show. I just thought, I can’t face feeling like this again.”
“It’s only because [theatre producer] Cameron Mackintosh had faith in me and after a period of time said, ‘You need to get back on the horse, or you’ll never know’ – and I did and I managed to control the anxiety and the panics.”
This happened in the Eighties and Ball explored the subject in his debut novel, The Empire.
It is a gloriously glamorous tale set in the 1920s and is about the on and off-stage dramas among a cast of characters, whose world revolves around the eponymous fictional theatre in the north of England.
There’s the glamour and the greasepaint as well as treachery and rivalry, in an industry Ball has made his career.
The 60-year-old has appeared in Hairspray, Phantom of the Opera and regularly performs with his friend Alfie Boe. He also presents a Radio 2 show on Sunday mornings.
He lives in London with his partner of 30 years, journalist and broadcaster Cathy McGowan.
“She’s my rock,” he said earnestly. “She’s been there for all the ups and the downs.”
The Empire is out in paperback now.